10 Sites To Help You Develop Your Knowledge About Stove Wood Burning
How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves are a comfortable way to heat a space and also save energy. They will require some maintenance.
Many modern wood stoves comply with EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker under or beside the grate to ensure your stove doesn't create many harmful pollutants.
How to start a Wood Fire
The smell and sound of a fire made from wood can be a pleasant addition to any home. However, it is important to know the correct method to create a fire on your stove. Improper techniques can result in an unburned fire that doesn't burn effectively and produces creosote or smoke. The tips below can help you create an efficient fire that will warm your home quickly and efficiently.
Examine the condition of your logs and coals before you start an fire. If they are too wet they will choke the fire and prevent it from burning properly. It is possible to open the chimney to get rid of any ash that has fallen into the stove.
Start by placing some small, dry newspaper pieces into your stove. This will help to ignite the tinder. When they begin to burn, add a layer of larger pieces to the top of the pile. This should be done in a crosshatch fashion so that there will be air between each piece of wood.
If you have wood stoves that have an automatic combustion control it will automatically supply a controlled stream of air to the fire as it builds. This will enable the fire to burn at a consistent pace without the need to open the stove's doors to tend it.
It is essential to avoid using too much tinder, since it can cause a fire that burns at an excessive rate and doesn't make use of the fuel as efficiently as it could. If you have a nice pile of tinder and some kindling in your stove, you can start the main fire by laying two large base logs across the grate. Then, you can lay an additional layer of smaller logs that are perpendicular to them and on the top of the base logs. This "top-down" method of building a fireplace will result in a long-lasting and effective fire that doesn't engulf larger logs from the base.
Close the damper when your fire has been established, and keep it closed. If you open the damper too early, it can cause the fire smother and will not allow for proper airflow, which will lower the effectiveness of the fire.
Adding Wood
Stoves can be used to efficiently heat your home and also save you money. They can be used on their own or in conjunction with central heating or a furnace system to provide the extra heating required in large homes or houses with a lot of rooms. Many of the new stoves that are clean burning available on the market use advanced combustion technology that is able to separate the burning volatile compounds from combustible gasses as well as tar. This is accomplished by providing air at two different stages. The first stage allows for the combustion of volatile compounds and the second stage offers fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves the process of combustion and reduces the odors.
The amount of heat you get from a stove will depend on the species and moisture content of the wood used, and also the size of logs. The logs must be stored in a well-ventilated area for a period of time before you try to burn them, to allow the wood to dry. If the logs are soaked with excessive moisture, they'll produce steam that is in essence wasted energy.
While you're burning the fire, add more wood to the stack at intervals, not all at all at. Too much wood added at one time causes the temperature inside the firebox to increase and produces a vortex that sucks smoke and volatile compounds that have not been burned back into the flame which can decrease the efficiency of your stove.
It is recommended to stay clear of other combustibles such as paper or cardboard in your stove, as they are not wood and have very different physical properties that cannot be burned without causing dangerously high temperatures and a lot of emissions. You should also not use compressed combustibles, such as wood briquettes as they have a very different chemical and physical composition to real firewood, and are not suitable for use in wood burning stoves.
It is crucial that a professional install and test your wood burning stove. A certified WETT technician will test the stove for proper operation and safety, as well as make sure that your chimney is functioning properly. These experts can also provide maintenance services to keep your stove and chimney in top condition. They can check the areas accessible to your chimney to determine if there is leakage and fix any issues found. They will also make sure that the occupants of your home know and follow the evacuation procedures for fire in case in the event of an emergency.
Adjusting the Damper
If you're not using your stove, a damper controls the amount of heat that is lost through the chimney. Additionally, it can also help control the fire. If the flue is open but the damper is closed the fire won't burn properly and smoke will erupt into your home. To ensure that you get the most efficient fire, with your damper adjusted properly you have to test different locations and observe how each one affects the flames.
Typically, you should keep the damper open enough to let air flow in and out of the flue while the fire is burning. This will allow the fire to start and remain lit for a number of hours. The right opening can stop the fire from being deprived of air and keep it from blowing smoke.
To properly adjust your damper, you need to first make sure the fireplace is heated and the wood stove is warm. This will ensure that the chimney is warm and has a good draft. Once these are done the damper on the wood stove can be adjusted.
Once the fire has burned a bit you should reduce the damper to around three-quarters of its full position. This will stop warm air in the room from venting through the chimney, while allowing the smoke to escape from the wood stove.
This is the most effective way to stop the fire from getting too hot while still keeping it lit. If you close the damper too much, it could block the draft from working, but should it be too open, a cold wind could blow through your home.
Placing your hand on the top of the flue pipe will inform you how much the damper has sunk. If you feel a slight breeze pushing against your hand the damper is probably in an open position.
The damper settings may differ from one stove to another and even among different types of wood. You can experiment with different settings to get an idea of the most suitable setting for your stove.
Clean up
After an incident, it is essential to clean the flue and stove. This will lower the risk of a chimney fire, which is the most common cause of wood stove related fires in homes. Creosote, a sticky substance that accumulates on the stovepipe's interior and can be very dangerous. It is caused by the moisture and wood particles that are not burned that are unable to escape the fire. It could also be caused by improperly lit fires.
A regular cleaning routine helps keep the buildup of creosote at bay. The best method to do this is by sweeping the chimney every year. It is also recommended to have your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and examined at least yearly.
It is also an excellent idea to clean the ash tray and the grates regularly. It is recommended to use only seasoned wood to burn, since it will create less creosote and ash. It is also an excellent idea to avoid burning paper, cardboard or plastic items. wood stoves near me can release dangerous chemicals into the air and flue, that could end up in your home.
The glass in the wood burning stove needs to be regularly cleaned too. Most newer wood stoves have self-cleaning windows so they do not require as much scrubs. If you're not able to clean the glass of your wood stove as clean as you'd like you can use stove glass cleaners can be used on the window.
Other helpful suggestions for maintaining your wood stove include turning the vent off when you are not using it and cracking the door or window to allow more air flow. This will keep the fire burning longer and more efficiently since it will not need to be as active to circulate air. It is also a good idea to not stack logs or leave them in the flame for long periods of time, as this can lead to warping and splitting. It is best to avoid using combustible compressed wood in your wood stove as the paraffin contained within the wood can melt and then flow into the flue, which could cause damage.